Welcome to the Bag It Resource Center
In addition to the tools and resources found in the Bag It bag, we’ve developed this comprehensive online Resource Center designed to be your starting point when you’re researching any of the many topics related to a cancer diagnosis. The Bag It Resource Center is continuously evaluated and updated to ensure we’re providing easy access to the best resources available.
Clinical Trials
Cancer clinical trials are research studies that involve people (volunteers) that participate in tests of drugs, procedures, devices or other therapies. There are strict rules in place to ensure the safety of the people participating in the trial. The findings could result in a better way to prevent, diagnose or treat cancer, improve cancer care or a person’s quality of life during or after treatment. Each clinical trial is different in its purpose, protocol, and eligibility requirements. Discuss with your doctor if a clinical trial could potentially be of benefit to you.
ASCO Cancer.net PRE-ACT – Short videos about all aspects of clinical trials
ASCO Cancer.net Clinical Trials – General information about clinical trials
Clinical Trials.gov – Government database lists publicly and privately supported clinical trials
National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials – General information and how to find clinical trials
The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation
Caregivers and Family Resources
Some of these organizations provide direct support services, educational materials, practical tips and how-tos for caring for someone with cancer.
Others provide programs and resources specifically to ensure the health and well-being of care partners and loved ones, including support groups and professional one-on-one counseling.
Lotsa Helping Hands – organize meals and help for someone in need
Help for Cancer Caregivers – personal caregiver guide
CancerCare – caregiver education and online support groups (general and cancer specific)
Caregiver Action Network – Caregiver Action Network listing: Education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge, a caregiver help desk.
Take Them A Meal – online meal coordination tool
Family Caregiver Alliance – caregiver education, online support groups
Pearlpoint – caregiving tips, nutrition, caregiver handbook
Camp Kesem – supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with fun year-round activities, events and a free weeklong summer camp.
SNational Cancer Institute Publications (download PDFs, ebooks, or Kindle version)
When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for Cancer – Support for Caregiver
When Your Parent Has Cancer – A Guide for Teens
When Someone You Love Has Advanced Cancer – Support for Caregivers
Facing Forward When Someone you Love Has Completed Cancer Treatment – Support for Caregivers
Coping with Advanced Cancer – Information about dealing with transitions in care, communication with others, and end of life issues.
Patient Power’s Care Partner Center – Supporting care partners and other loved ones through education and advocacy.
See Parenting & Fertility for more family resources.
Insurance, Managing Costs, and Financial Assistance Resources
Information about health insurance and disability insurance, support in managing finances and cancer costs during and after treatment. Many organizations offer financial assistance for cancer-related expenses including medications, co-pays, basic needs and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Insurance: Health Insurance, Disability Insurance
CancerFinances.org – financial impact of cancer
Healthcare.gov – Marketplace health insurance
Patient Advocate Foundation – case management, co-pay relief, insurance guide
Cancer Legal Resource Center – health insurance information
CancerCare – health insurance
Managing Costs
NCI’s Managing and Tracking Costs
Managing Finances From CancerFinances.org
CancerCare – managing the costs of cancer care
Financial Assistance
Needy Meds – prescription assistance
National Cancer Institute – listing of support organizations
Patient Advocate Foundation – co-pay relief and other financial assistance
CancerCare – comprehensive information about financial assistance resources
Medicine Assistance Tool – a search engine to help those with financial need get access to their prescription
College Consultants Care – provides FREE college application assistance and financial aid planning to students diagnosed with cancer or have a parent diagnosed with cancer.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Pan Foundation – out of pocket expense financial assistance
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition
RxHope – patient assistance program for medications
Family Reach – Dedicated to eradicating the financial barriers that accompany a cancer diagnosis, a widespread issue known as Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity (CRFT)
Legal Rights, Workplace, Advance Care Planning
Check out these organizations for topics related to work, healthcare rights, state and federal protections and benefit programs, and important legal documents to protect you and your loved ones.
Legal Rights
Triage Cancer – education on practical and legal issues that may impact those with cancer and their caregivers
The Americans with Disabilities Act – legal rights for those with disabilities such as cancer
Patient Advocate Foundation – laws and protections in healthcare and employment
Cancer Legal Resource Center – information about legal rights regarding employment, health care, and government benefits
Cancer Legal Resource Center Patient Legal Handbook – information about cancer-related legal issues from diagnosis through survivorship
Advance Care Planning
Cancer Legal Resource Center – tools to ensure your healthcare wishes are carried out
American Cancer Society – general information about different advance health care directives
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – Putting Your Health Care Wishes in Writing
Five Wishes – advance care planning program
Workplace
Cancer and Careers – empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in the workplace
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – enforces Federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination
Family Medical Leave Act – entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job- protected leave for specified family and medical reasons
Cancer Legal Resource Center – information about legal rights regarding employment, health care and government benefits
The Americans with Disabilities Act – federal civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities such as cancer
Cancer Legal Resource Center Patient Legal Handbook – information about cancer-related legal issues from diagnosis through survivorship
Parenting and Fertility
These organizations offer support for families dealing with cancer, book lists and tips about talking to children about cancer, fertility and becoming a parent after a cancer diagnosis.
Parenting and Cancer
American Cancer Society – Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer
CancerCare for Kids – free workships, booklets, counseling, support groups for parents and children of all ages
Camp Kesem – supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with fun year-round activities, events and a free weeklong summer camp.
Cancer Books
What Do I Tell the Kids (Cancer Support Community) – discussing cancer with children
When Someone You Love Is Being Treated For Cancer (download PDF, eReader or Kindle) – talking with children of different ages
Yale Cancer Center Book List for Families and Children – Cancer Treatment, Grief and Loss
Fertility
The OncoFertility Consortium – fertility options for cancer survivors
Livestrong Fertility – understanding fertility risks and options with a cancer diagnosis
Side-Effects
Information about possible side effects during and after cancer treatment and ways to manage them with the help of your healthcare team.
CancerCare – booklets and podcasts on coping with side effects from cancer treatment
ASCO Cancer.Net – descriptions of side effects and how to cope with them
Cancer.Net Mobile App – an app to track side effects from cancer treatment
ASCO Answers Palliative Care (download PDF)
Springboard Beyond Cancer – how to manage side effects
National Cancer Institute Chemotherapy and You – discusses side effects from chemotherapy (download PDF, ePub, Kindle formats)
National Cancer Institute Radiation Therapy and You – side effects from radiation therapy (download PDF, ePub, Kindle formats)
Pearlpoint – managing side effects
Patient Resource – Managing Cancer Pain (download PDF)
Cook for Your Life – healthy cooking for those touched by cancer
Pearlpoint Nutrition Consultation – (no charge)
National Cancer Institute Eating Hints – Before, during, and after cancer treatment (download PDF, ePub, Kindle formats)
ASCO Cancer.net – Types of Complementary therapies to manage side effects
ASCO Cancer.net – long-term side effects of cancer treatment and how to manage them
National Cancer Institute – late side effects of cancer treatment and how to manage them
Pearlpoint Survivorship Handbook – late and long-term side effects
ASCO Answers Managing Cancer Pain – understanding and managing cancer pain (download PDF)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health – definitions and research about complementary and integrative health methods
National Cancer Institute Pain Control: Support for People With Cancer
ASCO Cancer.net – Types of Complementary Therapies to manage side effects
Supportive Care—Emotional Support, Palliative Care, Complementary & Integrative Therapies
Supportive care helps with the psychological, physical, social, and spiritual effects of cancer, as well as practical needs. It can improve quality of life from the day of diagnosis. Many organizations offer their services at no charge for those with cancer and their caregivers and families.
.Emotional Support
CancerCare –online support groups and counseling
Cancer Support Community – face to face, phone and online support options.
Imerman Angels – one on one cancer support.
Cancer Hope Network – one on one cancer support.
SHARE Cancer Support – national helpline, educational programs, support groups, online communities, caregiver support, and survivor-patient navigation for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.
Friend for Life Cancer Support Network – One on one matched cancer support.
Grief
CaringInfo – grief and loss
Yale Cancer Center Book List – helping the family cope with grief
Palliative Care
Get Palliative Care – request palliative care to relieve symptoms and stress and improve your quality of life.
ASCO Answers Palliative Care (download PDF)
CaringInfo – Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
ASCO Answers Managing Cancer Pain – understanding and managing cancer pain (download PDF)
National Cancer Institute Pain Control: Support for People With Cancer
Patient Resource – Managing Cancer Pain (download PDF)
Complementary and Integrative Therapies
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health – definitions and research about complementary and integrative health methods
CancerCare Meditation app – for iPhone
American Cancer Society Complementary and Alternative Medicine – definitions and use in cancer care
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health-Pain: Considering Complementary Approaches (eBook)
Survivorship
Cancer survivorship starts at diagnosis. These organizations offer information, tools, and programs to help with all aspects of life both during and after treatment.
National Cancer Institute’s Facing Forward – Life After Cancer Treatment (download PDF, epub or Kindle formats)
Cancer Support Community – multiple support options
Imerman Angels – one on one cancer support
Cancer Hope Network – one on one cancer support
Pearlpoint – nutrition by cancer type
My Lifeline (part of Cancer Support Community) – tool for online connection with family and friends.
Healthy Lifestyle, American Institute for Cancer Research
Prevent Cancer Foundation – families and children
Livestrong at the YMCA: 12-week exercise program for cancer survivors.
Palliative Care – information about how to request palliative care to relieve symptoms and stress and improve your quality of life.
Lacuna Loft – online support programs for young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
SHARE Cancer Support – national helpline, educational programs, support groups, online communities, caregiver support, and survivor-patient navigation for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.
ASCO Answers Palliative Care (download PDF)
Pearlpoint – nutrition, follow up care, fear of recurrence, survivorship handbook
American Cancer Society Road to Recovery (Get a Ride to Treatment) – transportation assistance
American Cancer Society Hope Lodge for temporary housing
Cook for Your Life – healthy cooking for those touched by cancer
Ciitizen – helps you collect, summarize, and share your medical records digitally, free of charge.
Pearlpoint Nutrition Consultation – no charge
ASCO Answers Guide to Cancer Survivorship – PDF format
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health – definitions and research about complementary and integrative health methods.
Treatment Summary & Survivorship Care Plans OncoLink Survivorship Care Plan
While Bag It took efforts to collect materials only from nationally recognized, research-based publications, Bag It has not independently researched, verified, or otherwise confirmed the accuracy of any of the information provided. The links listed are not intended to be an endorsement of any information or services and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice.